Hwy. 26 reopens after closure due to freezing rain, jackknifed semis as Oregon’s winter storm travel woes continue

(Update: Highway 26 reopens near Warm Springs; ODOT Thursday travel update)

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) – U.S. Highway 26 was closed west of Warm Springs for several hours Thursday due to jackknifed semi-trucks as freezing rain returned to the High Desert, causing travel and other issues around the region and state.

ODOT said the highway was closed Thursday morning between milepost 100 and 101 due to the jackknifed trucks.

“Freezing rain is occurring throughout the area and is expected to continue,” the alert stated. “Delay travel if possible.”

The highway reopened around 3 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued another winter weather advisory for Central Oregon for 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday due to “mixed precipitation,” with up to an inch of snow and up to 1/10 of an inch of ice.

“Plan on slippery road conditions,” the NWS said. “Slow down and use caution while traveling.”

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office put out an alert Thursday morning for residents "to limit their travels on the roadways … due to unpredictable weather patterns" in the area for the next few days.

"ODOT is having difficulties keeping up with road maintenance due to various slide-offs throughout the region and response times are delayed for all first responders," the Frontier Regional Alert stated.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, Redmond Airport reported light rain and 36 degrees, while Prineville had “light mixed precipitation” and 39 degrees. There was light rain falling at Bend Airport, also at 39 degrees, and Madras Airport had light snow and 23 degrees. Sisters, Sunriver and La Pine had above-freezing temperatures as well.

Thursday morning ODOT travel update:

Winter weather is far from done in Oregon as freezing rain, heavy snow and high winds continued in several corners of the state.

The hoped-for Wednesday thaw never quite materialized as roads in western Oregon remained slick in many areas. Trees laden with ice brought down power lines, and highway crews continued their battle with the elements.

The National Weather Service forecast for Thursday and Friday called for continued freezing rain in the Coast Range, the Columbia River Gorge, Portland area and the Cascades.

ODOT maintenance crews crews continued to work 12-hour shifts as they have been for more than a week since the start of the storm. Approximately 400 snowplows have been clearing roads around the state. And as of Wednesday, in the ODOT region that encompasses most of the Willamette Valley and the North Coast, we've used 1.7 million pounds of salt since the storm began, the most we've ever used in the region.

Wise travelers should consider delaying their travels until their roads are safe. Those who must use the roads should consult Tripcheck.com and check conditions on their route. Tripcheck.com provides live cameras showing road conditions around the state along with other information that can help travel planning like altitude and temperature. Some Tripcheck.com cameras, however, are temporarily offline because of the storm.

We reopened Interstate 84 through the Columbia River Gorge late Wednesday after a closure of nearly 31 hours. But conditions remained precarious Thursday with ice, snow and chain restrictions. ODOT was monitoring the highway condition carefully and will close the highway if the road becomes unsafe.

Interstate 5 just south of Eugene will have rolling slowdowns Thursday to assist utility crews in restoring seven downed lines over both directions of the interstate.

Freezing rain was hitting central Oregon hard Thursday from Redmond north. U.S. 26 was closed west of Warm Springs at one point by semis that jackknifed in freezing rain.

OR 126W and OR 36 remain closed in the Coast Range due to down trees.

In eastern Oregon, OR 244 is closed, with local freight and passenger vehicles only allowed and no I-84 access for commercial vehicles. Most highways in the region remain covered with snow and ice or both with temperatures below or just above freezing. Slight warming may come by Thursday afternoon but temperatures may fall back below freezing by night. Mixed precipitation -- snow and freezing rain -- throughout eastern Oregon will continue Thursday into Friday, making travel difficult.

If you must travel, be prepared.

If you decide to drive, pack your vehicle with the essentials: tire chains, snacks, water, medications, and warm clothing. Fill up your vehicle’s gas tank or fully charge its battery. Plan your route ahead and if you’re following GPS navigation, make sure it sticks to main roads; many rural roads are unmaintained and very treacherous.

If you’re walking or rolling to your destination, watch for lingering ice on sidewalks. Public transit is another option but the winter weather may have caused schedule changes, so check those before you head out. For folks on bikes, road shoulders and bike lanes may be extra slushy, so be careful.

For more winter weather driving tips, see our winter travel news packet.

To see images from this winter event from across Oregon, see our January 2024 Flickr album.